Best Connectionparenting Podcasts (2025)

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247. Consistency Over Excitement: Five Years of Building Family Brand and BTS of The Family Brand Blitz! 17:29

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2d ago17:29

17:29

You Are Firemen: Built to Lead, Built to Last This week's episode is part reflection, part celebration, and part reminder. Chris and Melissa sit down to talk about two big milestones: the recent Family Brand Blitz and the five-year anniversary of The Family Brand Podcast. And instead of just sharing highlights, they unpack the deeper lessons that e…

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246. The Family Brand New Year's Kickoff: How We End the Year on Purpose 23:03

6d ago23:03

23:03

The Family Brand New Year's Kickoff: A Tradition That Builds Culture Every year, right after Christmas — during those quiet, in-between days when no one quite knows what day it is — our family slows down and does something that has become one of our most meaningful traditions. We reflect. We celebrate. And we intentionally step into the new year to…

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245. Language Creates: How the Words You Use Shape Your Life and Family 27:08

13d ago27:08

27:08

As we head into a new year, Chris and Melissa wanted to revisit a conversation that has quietly shaped their family more than almost anything else: the power of language. This idea — that language creates — was one of the very first topics ever discussed on The Family Brand Podcast, and it's still one of the most talked-about episodes to this day. …

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244. Chief Reminding Officer: Why Great Leaders Repeat Themselves 18:04

21d ago18:04

18:04

Chief Reminding Officer: The Power of Repetition in Your Family If you've ever felt like a broken record as a parent — constantly reminding your kids (or yourself) of the same things over and over — this episode will make you feel a whole lot better. This week, Chris and Melissa talk about something they've been feeling in both their home and busin…

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243. How to Raise More Free-Range, Confident, and Adventurous Kids 22:27

30d ago22:27

22:27

Have you ever caught yourself saying "no" to your kids' adventures out of pure instinct — only to wonder later if maybe the risk was worth it? In this episode, Chris and Melissa talk about how they're learning to raise kids who are more confident, capable, and adventurous by saying yes a little more often. The idea started after Melissa read The An…

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242. Faith, Family, and the Songs That Heal: A Conversation with Angie Killian 37:04

1M ago37:04

37:04

Making Jesus Famous One Song at a Time with Angie Killian This week, Melissa sits down with award-winning songwriter and composer Angie Killian, whose music has touched millions of hearts around the world. Angie's songs — like her viral hit "My Own Sacred Grove" — have been streamed over 30 million times and translated into dozens of languages, ins…

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241. Living with Intention: The Daily Habits That Build a Life You Love 20:51

2M ago20:51

20:51

Living with Intention: The Daily Habits That Build a Life You Love This week, Melissa continues the conversation from Episode 239 — The #1 Thing Standing Between You and the Life You Want — where she shared the importance of getting clear on what you want. Now, in Part Two, she goes deeper into what to do once you've found that clarity, and how to …

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243. You Are What You Consume: How Media Shapes Your Family 24:35

2M ago24:35

24:35

You Are What You Consume: How Media Shapes Your Family What we watch, listen to, and read matters more than we realize. In this episode, Chris and Melissa open a conversation that every family needs to have: how the media we consume — from music and books to shows and social media — shapes who we become. It all started with a walk and a conversatio…

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242. Building Family Identity Through Dia De Los Muertos 14:10

2M ago14:10

14:10

How to Celebrate Dia De Los Muertos as a Family (and Why You Should) Every year around this time, Chris and Melissa share one of their favorite family traditions — celebrating Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. What started years ago as an invitation to a friend's backyard gathering has turned into a cherished Family Brand tradition that conne…

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241. Why Unity Starts at Home: Building Strong Families in a Divided World 30:15

2M ago30:15

30:15

Creating Unity in a Divided World In this powerful and emotional episode, Chris and Melissa explore one of the most timely and important topics of our day — unity. The world feels more divided than ever, and yet, as Chris and Melissa remind us, the healing of that division starts at home. Drawing inspiration from past guests like Connor Boyack and …

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240. How to Support Your Spouse Through Every Season of Marriage 35:58

3M ago35:58

35:58

In this episode, Chris and Melissa get real about what it means to truly support your spouse—not just when it's easy, but through every season of life and marriage. Inspired by a listener question, they dive into what support actually looks like when your goals, energy, and responsibilities are constantly shifting. From the early days of raising fi…

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239. The #1 Thing Standing Between You and the Life You Want 22:43

3M ago22:43

22:43

Clarity: The First Step Toward the Life You Actually Want What if the reason you're not living the life you want isn't because you're lazy or unmotivated — but simply because you haven't gotten clear on what you truly want? In this powerful conversation, Chris and Melissa kick off a two-part series on living with intention, starting with the one th…

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238. How This Single Dad of 8 Blends Business, Faith, and Family 42:16

3M ago42:16

42:16

Faith, Fatherhood, and Leading at Home with Intention In one of the most heartfelt episodes we've ever recorded, Chris and Melissa sit down with Bubba Page — a single dad of eight, serial entrepreneur, and unapologetic follower of Jesus — to explore what it really means to lead your family with faith, intentionality, and purpose. Bubba's story is r…

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237. The Tuttle Twins Creator on Saving America at the Dinner Table 49:47

3M ago49:47

49:47

What if the future of our country doesn't hinge on elections, courtrooms, or political battles—but on family dinner conversations? That's exactly the vision today's guest, Connor Boyack, shares with us. Connor is the bestselling author of over 50 books, including the wildly popular Tuttle Twins series, which has sold more than seven million copies …

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236. Becoming Dangerous...Being Strong Enough to Play, Protect, and Participate as a Parent 22:15

4M ago22:15

22:15

Getting Off the Sidelines Have you ever looked around and realized that too many parents are sitting on the sidelines of their kids' lives? Chris had this exact thought during a recent Girl Dad camp, where he noticed how many dads struggled to fully participate in simple activities like soccer, frisbee, or even just running around with their daught…

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235. 7 Ways to Help Your Teen Stay Connected at Home 29:33

4M ago29:33

29:33

Helping Teens Connect at Home If you've ever felt like your teens are drifting toward their rooms, screens, or independence a little faster than you'd like, you're not alone. In this episode, Chris and Melissa open up about the rhythms, struggles, and small wins of keeping their three teenagers connected and interactive with family life. They share…

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234. Girl Dad Camp: Boosting Confidence, Connection, and Courage in Our Daughters 24:27

4M ago24:27

24:27

This week's episode is a special one—Chris is back from Girl Dad Camp and we're unpacking everything he experienced alongside our daughters, Ivy and Indy. Hosted at BYU and organized by the women's athletics coaches, Girl Dad Camp is a weekend built for fun, connection, and, most importantly, confidence-building. With stations like pickleball, gymn…

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233. Intentional Back-to-School: Letting Your Kids Help Choose Their Education 25:53

5M ago25:53

25:53

Hey friends! It's that time of year again—backpacks, new shoes, and… big decisions about school. In this week's episode, Chris and I open up about what school looks like for our family this year. With five kids in different grades (and different learning styles), we've never taken a one-size-fits-all approach to education—and this year is no differ…

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232. What If One Weekend Could Transform Your Family Forever? 20:05

5M ago20:05

20:05

Hey Family Brand, it's Chris and Melissa here! We have something really special to share with you today. If you've ever felt like life is moving too fast, like your family is surviving more than thriving, or you just wish you had space to reconnect and refocus—this episode is for you. We're inviting you to something we've been dreaming about and wo…

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231. Family Meeting that Don't Suck - How to Actually Make Them Work 10:42

5M ago10:42

10:42

Hey Family Brand! It's Melissa here, and if you've ever tried to hold a family meeting that ended in chaos, eye-rolls, or zero follow-through… this episode is for you. We're diving into a topic that might sound boring but can truly transform your family culture: family meetings. Trust me, I get it—most of us didn't grow up doing these, and if we di…

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230. Why Hustle Culture Doesn't Work for Families (and What to Do Instead) Feat. Kelly O'Neil 32:32

6M ago32:32

32:32

Hey Family Brand — it's Melissa here, and I am SO excited to introduce you to today's guest, the incredible Kelly O'Neil. I have been a fan of Kelly's work for years, and I'm still processing this conversation — it was that impactful. Kelly is a strategist, a visionary, and a total powerhouse when it comes to helping people build legacy businesses …

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229. Be Your Family's Chief Reminding Officer 11:34

6M ago11:34

11:34

Hey Family Brand, it's Chris and Melissa! Today's episode is inspired by something we've found to be one of the most underrated (but absolutely essential) roles in leadership — whether you're running a company or raising a family: becoming the Chief Reminding Officer. This idea came up during one of our walks, and we realized how much of parenting …

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228. Preparing for the Unexpected: A Personal Story on Wills and Life Insurance 19:26

6M ago19:26

19:26

Hey Family Brand — it's Melissa here. Today's episode is a little different, and honestly, it's one I tried to record six different times. It took me a while to even figure out what I wanted to say because this one hits close to home. Last week, my cousin and his wife passed away unexpectedly in a tragic plane crash, leaving behind two little ones.…

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227. What a $2.5B Exit Taught Me About Family and Leadership with Alex Bean 37:38

6M ago37:38

37:38

Hey Family Brand—it's Melissa here! I'm so excited to share this conversation with someone I've admired for a long time: Alex Bean, co-founder of Divvy and a passionate leader with a heart for family, community, and building something bigger than yourself. I've wanted to have Alex on the show for a while because he embodies what we talk about so of…

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226. Family Culture Upgrades for Summer: Simple Changes That Make a Big Impact 26:10

7M ago26:10

26:10

Hey Family Brand! It's Melissa here, and this week I'm sharing something I've been thinking about a lot—how summer gives us a unique opportunity to pause, reflect, and upgrade our family culture. Whether your kids are home more, you're traveling, or you're just trying to juggle a different routine, summer naturally gives us space to reevaluate what…

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225. Can using AI make You a More Intentional Family?! 13:40

7M ago13:40

13:40

Hey Family Brand! It's Melissa and Chris here, and today we're diving into a topic we've never tackled before on the podcast—how families can use AI to live more intentionally. We're not tech experts, but we've had some surprising (and honestly life-changing) experiences with tools like ChatGPT, and we think it's time to pull back the curtain and s…

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224. This One's For the Girls! 35:07

7M ago35:07

35:07

Hey Family Brand—it's Melissa here, and this episode is just for the girls. Inspired by that old Martina McBride song (yes, I looked it up—2003!), I wanted to sit down and have a really honest chat about womanhood. From postpartum recovery to hormones, breast implants, Hashimoto's, perimenopause, and trying to figure out what wellness even means in…

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223. Mastering the 9-5 with Sean Cook 39:08

8M ago39:08

39:08

Hey Family Brand! It's Chris and Melissa here, and today we are joined by one of our dear friends and someone who constantly inspires us—Dr. Sean Cook. Sean is a husband, a father of four, a dentist, and a proud Family Brand graduate. In this episode, we're flipping the script on what it means to be "successful." Instead of talking about the typica…

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222. The Secret to Memorable Family Vacations 15:00

8M ago15:00

15:00

Hey Family Brand! It's Chris and Melissa here, and this week we're talking all about summer plans and how to create meaningful, memorable family vacations. If you're anything like us, summer can sneak up quickly, and planning can feel overwhelming. But what if the best family trips aren't the most expensive or extravagant ones? What if they're the …

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221. From Surviving to Leading – How Dee Taggart Found Her Voice and Helps Other Women Do the Same 48:43

8M ago48:43

48:43

Hey Family Brand! It's Melissa, and I'm so honored to introduce you to my guest today, Dee Taggart. After getting to know Dee at one of our recent couples retreats, I knew she had a story that needed to be shared with our community. Dee is the founder of Her Xpansion, a space where women can grow in confidence, connection, and self-leadership. She'…

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220. How to Transform Your Inner World with Joey Klein 32:48

9M ago32:48

32:48

Hey Family Brand! It's Melissa here, and today I'm thrilled to introduce you to someone whose work is all about personal mastery and lasting transformation—Joey Klein. Joey is a transformation expert, author, and founder of Inner Matrix Systems. He's helped over 84,000 people across the globe—from Fortune 500 executives to everyday families—create …

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219. Do Better, Get Better 10:19

9M ago10:19

10:19

Hey Family Brand! It's Chris here with a solo episode for you today while Melissa is out of town with one of our daughters. I've been thinking a lot lately about a simple phrase I came across: "Do better, get better." It hit me in a powerful way, and I've been sharing it with my team, our clients, my family—really anyone who will listen. Today, I w…

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218. Couple's Retreat Recap – Why Your Marriage Deserves a Getaway 16:55

9M ago16:55

16:55

Hey Family Brand! It's Chris and Melissa here, and we're finally sitting down to share the recap of our recent Couple's Retreat in Hawaii. And wow—what an experience! Whether or not you were able to attend, this episode is for anyone who wants to grow in their marriage, reconnect with their spouse, and create intentional rhythms that bring joy and …

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217. Who Are You Really Following? The Hidden Impact of Online Influence 38:31

9M ago38:31

38:31

Hey Family Brand! It's Chris and Melissa here, and today, we're having an important conversation about something we don't always stop to think about—who we allow to influence us. In a world where social media, thought leaders, and online personalities are more accessible than ever, it's easy to get caught up in curated versions of success. But how …

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216. Becoming a Peacemaker – Finding Peace Within and Around You 13:25

10M ago13:25

13:25

Hey Family Brand! It's Melissa here, and today, I'm bringing you a different kind of episode—one that I wasn't expecting to record, but I know it's exactly the conversation I need to have right now. My word for the year is 'maker,' and while I've spent time thinking about all the ways I want to create—being a homemaker, a moneymaker, a creator—it n…

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215. Cultivating Greater Gratitude with Shannon and Matthew Missimer 29:10

10M ago29:10

29:10

Hey Family Brand! It's Chris and Melissa here, and today, we have an incredible conversation for you with Shannon and Matthew Missimer, co-founders of The Motion of Gratitude. Their work is all about helping families move from just going through the motions of life to living with intention, presence, and gratitude. If you've ever felt stuck in surv…

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214. Homeless...The Power of Shared Experiences: Why Serving Together Strengthens Families 23:07

10M ago23:07

23:07

Hey Family Brand! It's Chris and Melissa here, and today we're diving into something that has been incredibly meaningful for our family lately—creating shared experiences through service. If you've ever felt like life is moving too fast and you're struggling to connect as a family, this episode is for you. We're sharing our recent experience feedin…

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213. Escape... with Intention. Don't miss our NEW Couple's Getaway Guide. 18:21

10M ago18:21

18:21

Hey Family Brand! It's Melissa here, and today, I'm sharing something that I am SO excited about—our brand-new Escape with Intention: A Couple's Getaway Guide! Chris and I have felt the power of a well-planned getaway so many times, and we truly believe every couple deserves time away to reconnect, dream, and have fun together. But here's the thing…

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212. When to STOP Showing Up to All Your Kid's Stuff? (Spots, Events, Etc.) 13:04

11M ago13:04

13:04

Hey Family Brand crew! Today, we're tackling a topic that might stir up some conversation—when should you stop showing up to all of your kid's activities? As parents, we want to support our children and be there for them, but at what point does showing up to everything start to impact our time, energy, and even our family's well-being? This is some…

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211. Becoming....Undeniable 23:12

11M ago23:12

23:12

Hey Family Brand! It's Chris and Melissa here, and today we're diving into a topic that has been a theme in our home and our conversations lately—what it means to become undeniable. Whether it's in parenting, business, sports, or life in general, how do we show up in a way that makes our contributions impossible to ignore? We're sharing personal st…

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210. State of the Smith Family Finances Address 31:16

11M ago31:16

31:16

Hey Family Brand! It's Chris and Melissa here, and today we're diving into a topic that we haven't spent much time on in the podcast: family finances. If the thought of finances makes you want to tune out, stick with us—we're sharing lessons learned from our own money journey, the missteps we've taken, and the shifts that have helped us build a hea…

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209. New Year, New Intentions – Finding Your Family's Focus for 2025 28:27

11M ago28:27

28:27

Hey Family Brand! It's Chris and Melissa here, and we're coming to you from our brand-new house, fresh into 2025! This episode feels extra special because it's the first one we're recording in our new home, and we're sharing how our family has been setting the tone for the new year. Whether you're someone who loves creating goals and vision boards …

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208. Rewriting the Stories That Hold You Back: Shatter the Need for Confidence with Guest Angus Nelson 34:43

12M ago34:43

34:43

Hey Family Brand! It's Melissa here, and I couldn't be more excited to introduce you to my guest, Angus Nelson. Angus is an executive coach who helps entrepreneurs and high achievers break through their blockers and become their best selves. In today's episode, we dive into why confidence isn't the secret to success—and why the journey to real self…

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207. Our One Family 'Rule': Simplify Your Family Life with This Guiding Principle 15:41

12M ago15:41

15:41

Hey Family Brand! It's Chris and Melissa here, and today we're talking about something that has brought clarity and connection to our family: our one family "rule." Now, we're not talking about a strict rule you have to follow, but more like a guiding principle—something simple that keeps us grounded, connected, and focused on what matters most. In…

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206. Make your goal of 'Get Organized' actually happen in 2025! With Shawn Lemon of The Digital Organizer 39:44

12M ago39:44

39:44

Hey Family Brand! It's Melissa here, and this week, we're diving into a topic that's on everyone's mind as we head into a new year: getting organized! My guest, Shawn Lemon of The Digital Organizer, is here to share practical strategies to help families streamline their digital lives and create more peace at home. If your goal for 2025 is to finall…

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205. Best Year Yet: A Fun and Meaningful Way to Celebrate New Year's with Your Family (FREE DOWNLOAD INSIDE) 12:52

1y ago12:52

12:52

Hey Family Brand! It's Melissa and Chris here, and we're so excited to share one of our favorite annual traditions: our "Best Year Yet" family framework. Whether you're looking for a fun and meaningful way to close out the year or want to start the new year with intention, this episode is packed with ideas to help your family reflect, connect, and …

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204. Four Years of the Family Brand Podcast + A Sneak Peek at Our New Year's FREE Download! 17:05

1y ago17:05

17:05

Hey Family Brand! It's Melissa here, joined by Chris, and today we're celebrating a huge milestone: four years of the Family Brand Podcast! We can hardly believe it ourselves, and we couldn't have done it without YOU—our incredible listeners. In this episode, we're looking back at the conversations that have shaped us, the lessons we've learned, an…

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203. Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet with Guests Wayne and Mae Wagner 46:51

1y ago46:51

46:51

Hey Family Brand! It's Melissa here, and today, I'm so excited to welcome back two incredible guests, Wayne and Mae Wagner. If you've been feeling like you want to start 2025 with intention and purpose, this episode is for you. We dive deep into practical ways to close out this year strong, reflect on what worked (and what didn't), and set up your …

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202. What I'm Leaving Behind in My 30s and Embracing in My 40s 16:29

1y ago16:29

16:29

Hey Family Brand! It's Melissa here, and today's episode is extra personal as I reflect on turning 40. Hitting this milestone has been such a meaningful moment for me—an opportunity to look back on my 30s, decide what I'm leaving behind, and think about what I want to embrace moving forward. I'm also excited to share some big changes I've been maki…

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201. STOP Doing These Family Traditions! 14:02

1y ago14:02

14:02

Hey Family Brand! It's Melissa here, and today, I want to dive into a topic that feels especially timely as we head into the holidays: family traditions. Traditions can be beautiful and meaningful, but have you ever stopped to ask yourself if all of your traditions are still serving you and your family? That's what we're exploring in this episode—h…